FG arraigns Justice Ngwuta before Code of Conduct Tribunal

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on Thursday arraigned Justice Sylvester Ngwuta before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over allegations bordering on false asset declaration.

The Supreme Court justice pleaded not guilty to the amended eight counts preferred against him.

Shortly after the defendant took his plea, his lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), applied orally that Ngwuta be granted bail on self recognition.

The request was not opposed by the lead prosecuting counsel, Umar Muhammed, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation.

The tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, granted the bail application and fixed July 12 for commencement of trial.

Ngwuta was one of the judges whose homes were raided by men of the State Security Service over allegations of corruption.

He is presently undergoing separate trial for money laundering and passport fraud charges preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

While Justice Ngwuta’s trial was going on before a Federal High Court, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had on February 8, 2017 preferred separate sets of charges bordering on breaches of code of conduct for public officers and asset declaration asset breaches against him and another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.